The morning sun streamed through the windows of Gilda’s flat, barely broken up by the poorly maintained blinds that hung from them. Sunset Shimmer groaned as the sun struck that perfect angle where it lanced into her eyes like a blinding spear of pain. If she were still in Equestria she would suspect the Princess of adjusting the angle just enough to wake her former student up.

She would have too.

Celestia was that kind of immortal ruler.

The bored kind.

Here, though, it was just good old natural lighting. The morning air was freezing and the small bits of Sunset’s shoulders that were loose from the blankets were informing her in no uncertain terms what kind of icy hellscape getting up from bed right now would introduce her to. For a moment she vacillated between getting up quickly enough to get over to the window, adjust the blinds and bury herself back in the covers and the rumpled sleep sweater that she’d stolen from Gilda, and just trying to find a place where the light didn’t burn her precious eyeballs.

Then she tried to move her legs and remembered.

‘Right, doing things quickly isn’t really my thing anymore.’ Sunset thought a little bitterly to herself. ‘Fuck.’

Part of her wanted to wallow in it. To spend the next hours of wakefulness thinking about all the things she couldn’t do anymore which was pretty much all the stuff she used to enjoy. No more morning jogs, no more any kind of sport pretty much, no more taking walks. Every thought slipped through her mind like a sieve leaving behind yet more residue that was weighing her down.

Then Gilda rolled over in her sleep. Her long, muscular arm draped over Sunset’s torso and the moment they came into contact Gilda sleepily curled her arm around her girlfriend and pulled her in, holding her like a body pillow and snuggling against Sunset while muttering unintelligibly.

A small smile traced over Sunset’s lips as she turned and inhaled Gilda’s familiar, calming scent. “Dammit, Gil,” she whispered under her breath. “Even while you’re asleep you won’t let me wallow in my depressive funk.” ‘On the other hand she’s blocking the sun now…’

Sunset spent the next few minutes just… watching. Taking in the beautiful girl holding her close. Freeing her arm, she adjusted the blankets a little the cover both of them again and settled in. Gilda always talked about the way she looked so… negatively. Sunset never got the impression that Gilda disliked the way she looked, per se, but Gilda was always adamant about how she was just ‘too big’, or ‘bulky’, or her favorite term: ‘a huge bitch’. On the contrary, Gilda was proud of her physique and she deserved to be, but she also seemed to think it made her… less attractive.

Gilda had fallen asleep in a loose, ratty tanktop leaving her soft, dark arms free. Sighing, Sunset reached up and traced a finger along Gilda’s arm; running her fingers over the bicep, around to her triceps, and savoring the firm feeling of her shoulders. Gilda was, at least to Sunset’s eyes, very attractive. Gorgeous, even. Mouth-watering was another term but she definitely wasn’t going to say that one out loud or her face would probably burst into flames.

Instead, Sunset just moved a little closer and nestled into Gilda’s arms. Right now, right here, it was morning and nothing else mattered but staying warm.

“Mm, g’mornin’, Sunflower,” Gilda murmured drowsily, shifting in the bed to better accommodate Sunset’s presence, eventually settling on moving up slightly and resting her chin just above Sunset’s head on the pillow. “Y’sleep alright?”

“Yeah,” Sunset answered contentedly, “I always do when I’m with you.”

Gilda blushed but only pulled Sunset closer. “Tryin’ t’charm me, Sunny? Pretty sure y’already got that down pat. The trick now is gettin’ ridda’ me.”

“Like I’d ever actually want that,” Sunset answered. “I love you way too much, Gil. Like… a scary amount.” She’d meant it to come out as a joke but it ended up sounding… literal, and Sunset flinched. “Wow, sorry… that sounded really creepy.”

“Hey, Sunshine?” Gilda said, pulling herself up to a sitting position, leaning against the wall that made up the head of the bed. “C’mere,” she gestured for Sunset to join her.

“Uh, Gil?” Sunset deadpanned before lifting herself up onto her elbows and blithely gesturing towards her lower half.

“Oh, uh…” Gilda’s cheeks reddened and she leaned in to loop one of Sunset’s arms around her shoulders and pulled her up to sit alongside her. “Sorry, babe. I’m such an idiot, I’ll uh, I’ll… ugh point is… lemme ask ya a question, okay Sunshine?” Sunset nodded, meeting Gilda’s golden eyes evenly. “So, given whatcha know ‘bout me’n how I live, right? How many people d’ya think love me?”

Sunset scowled immediately and opened her mouth to admonish Gilda almost reflexively… except she couldn’t. Her face fell as she tried to find a counter to Gil’s question. An answer that didn’t sound, well, horrible.

“C’mon Sunshine, ain’t a hard question, I’m Gilda the Griffon. That’s not exactly a flattering nickname,” she continued with a dry smirk before starting counting off on one hand, “Les’see, I live alone, my folks are dead, my teachers resent me even when I do show up, so yeah. How many people actually love Gilda Grimfeather?”

“I do…” Sunset said finally. “I love you.”

Gilda smiled a warm, genuine smile, looking down Sunset as she wrapped an arm around her waist and rested a hand on her thigh. “Yeah ya do, and lemme tell ya Sunflower, if you’re the only one in my whole life who, y’know, ever loves me, then that’ll be enough for me.”

“Oh, Gil…” Sunset sobs softly before burying her face in Gilda’s shoulder. “Don’t talk like that. You’re amazing. You’re… so good. You’re loyal and honest, you’re generous and kind, and you can always make me laugh.” Looking up at Gilda, Sunset takes a hard grip on the larger girl’s tanktop. “So don’t… don’t act like no one can love you. You’re incredible! I love you! Right now, my whole life is pretty much a dumpster fire okay? You? You’re the one who makes it worth living. You’re the whole reason I’m still here, okay? I love you so goddamn much!”

By the end Sunset is practically shaking a bewildered and stunned Gilda, glaring through watery eyes. Finally, though, Sunset calmed down and just rested her forehead against Gilda’s shoulder, taking in shaky breaths.

“Gilda, you deserve all the love in the world,” Sunset said softly. “But even if you are right? Even if all you’re going to get is mine? Then you’re getting all of it, Okay?”

Grinning, Gilda brought a hand up and rubbed away the streaks of tears from Sunset’s face. “Sure thing, Sunshine. I’ll take that deal any day of the week, month, or year. Your love is all I’ll ever need.”

Grinning ear to ear, Sunset pulled herself up and kissed Gilda, wrapping both arms around her neck and getting as close as she could. She wanted to feel as much as possible and, apparently, Gilda agreed as the larger girl’s hand wandered down to settle on Sunset’s rear end.

Pulling away with a wry smirk, Sunset grinned smokily at Gilda who returned the look. “You gonna move your hand?”

“Nope.”

Sunset’s grin widened. “Good.”

Giving her girl a good squeeze, eliciting a satisfying squeak of surprise, Gilda pulled Sunset all the way into her lap, wrapping them both in the blanket. “So, seriously, what’re we doin’ today?”

Wiggling her hips happily, Sunset smiled and rested her head on Gilda’s shoulder. “Dunno, the mall, maybe? I… I kinda wanna get out, y’know? I’ve been cooped up for days, I know it’ll be weird getting around in my wheelchair so… I’d rather get used to it now, y’know?”

There was no reason to ask if Sunset was sure. Gilda had it figured even before she fell in love with the girl that if Sunset said something then she was pretty much already as sure as she was gonna get. The real issue was getting Sunset not to do something she’d decided to do, Gilda reflected a little morosely as she recalled her previously homeless living situation. That girl had a serious problem asking for help.

“Okay,” Gilda said, planting a soft kiss on Sunset’s cheek and getting a heart-warming laugh in return. “The mall should be opening soon, s’gonna be swamped though, y’know. First real day’a vaca-y.”

“I know,” Sunset answered, her face falling a little. “If I’m gonna get used to it though, I’m just gonna get it done. Once they see me rolling around like that in the mall, they won’t give me too much shit in the hallways… I hope.”

“Pfft, yeah,’ Gilda retorted a little sullenly. “The hope and the dream, ‘ey Sunshine?”

Sunset just shook her head before pulling herself free of Gilda and reaching out to grip the handle, hissing a bit as the cold metal chilled her warm skin, and heaving herself from the bed to her chair, unlatching it as she turned toward the bathroom. “Other po-people will do what they’ll do, Gil, we both know that.”

“Yeah, but-”

“But for me?” Sunset asked no one in particular, but smiling widely. “I’ve already got the hope and the dream, I woke up next to her this morning.”

Gilda didn’t really have a response to that. She just stuttered and blushed as Sunset wheeled herself into the bathroom and shut the door.

“Dammit Sunflower,” Gilda muttered. “Always gotta have the last word.”

“And grab my guitar, will you babe?” Sunset shouted from the bathroom. “I need new strings!”

Fortunately, the Mall was a bus hub, making it one of the easiest places in the city of Canterlot to get to at any given time regardless of your motive abilities. All buses in the area passed through the central station adjoining the Mall, and the Ponyville Commons had plenty of stops. Getting Sunset’s chair loaded onto one of the two disabled seats wasn’t particularly easy but Gilda patiently worked through it.

“Don’t worry babe,” Gilda laughed as she pushed a sullen Sunset into place. “It’ll get easier with practice, first time for everything, yeah?”

Sunset sighed and nodded. “I know, but it’s still… annoying, y’know? I’m in everybody’s way.”

“They can suck it up, buttercup,” Gilda remarked wryly drawing a few glares from the rest of the passengers. “Hey, what’re you lot lookin’ at?”

Gilda scowled at the rest of the bus patrons for a moment before returning to fixing up the belts that secured Sunset’s seat in place and then taking the spot beside her. There was a slight kick of acceleration as the bus took off towards its destination, it was a forty-five-minute ride thanks to the circuitous route, but it was better than walking in the freezing cold. Doubly so because the sidewalks weren’t exactly wheelchair-friendly thanks to the snowfall.

“I hate this,” Sunset groused, running her hands nervously over her guitar case.

Gilda reached over and took one of her hands, giving it a soft squeeze. “Hate what? The bus ride? We can get off early if ya want. Walk the rest of the way.”

Sunset shook her head. “No, I hate being an inconvenience. I’ve had to adjust to… to a lot of changes in my life. My legs burdening me is… well, not fine but I can deal. It’s how much it just… messes with other people. I just slow people down.”

“I’ve been kinda wondering why you’ve been so, y’know, laid-back about dealing with this whole thing,” Gilda said, gesturing to Sunset’s wheelchair. “I’d be freakin’ out. What kinda ‘changes’ even come close to bein’ a match for your legs?”

‘Losing my magic,’ Sunset thought dourly. “That’s… that’s a really long conversation, actually, but we can talk about it when we get home tonight, okay? It’s something I should tell you about anyway since we’re, y’know…”

“Desperately in love?” Gilda interjected with a grin, evoking a heated blush from Sunset.

“Wow, subtle much?” Sunset countered, laughing a little. “But, uh… yeah, basically. It just isn’t something that comes up in casual conversation much for reasons that’ll become pretty obvious. And… it’s also something I don’t like talking about.”

“Y’don’t have to,” Gilda said, rubbing the back of Sunset’s hand. “I’m good just bein’ with you. We all got a past and if leavin’ it buried is your thing it’s no skin off’a my back, savvy?”

Sunset leaned over to rest her head against Gilda’s shoulder. “No, it’s not that. I can talk about it. I want to talk about it… with you I mean. You deserve to know me, if you’re going to be doing this much for me I want you to know who I am.”

“We’re eighteen, babe. I’m pretty sure we’re still in the middle of figuring out who we are for ourselves.” Gilda replied, with a laugh as she reached up and stroked Sunset’s cheek, earning an appreciative hum from the redhead. “But if ya wanna talk, I’ll always listen to ya.”

“I know,” Sunset answered, “and I love you for it.”

The rest of the bus ride passed in relative silence, patrons boarding and leaving for the next half hour until finally, the bright, shining mall came into view on the horizon. It was a massive edifice to consumerism, more so than most shopping centers. Its name was not hyperbole; the Crystal Emporium had massive crystalline windows and towering sheets of reflective glass that caught the light of the snowy day and sent shimmering rainbows all over the freshly fallen snow from the night before. When it parked, Gilda reached down to undo the belts as Sunset snapped the brake latch on the wheels up.

“Good news,” Gilda said, looking over Sunset’s shoulder and out the bus window. “They must’ve salted the sidewalks, totally clear of snow.”

“Pretty sure that’s a safety regulation, thing, hon,” Sunset replied, following Gilda’s gaze.

“Whatever, still convenient,” Gilda snarked back.

The two girls disembarked, Sunset’s guitar hanging from the back of her wheelchair, and made their way down towards the main east entrance of the mall that led into one of the larger department stores. It was a cold day, but Sunset was bundled up, as usual, an orange beanie on her head and a thick jacket, one of Gilda’s spares, on while Gilda was wearing a thick sweater, red scarf, and her usual bomber jacket and jeans.

“I always kinda wondered what was up with your jacket, Gil,” Sunset said as Gilda wheeled her towards the entrance. “You always wear it.”

“It was my dad’s,” Gilda said, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. “The only real solid thing I got left’a my parents. He was a pilot in the Air Force and he was pretty much my hero. Right up til he died I thought he was invincible.”

“God, Gil, I… I’m so sorry I-” Sunset worked her jaw for a second but Gilda just chuckled dryly and gave Sunset’s shoulder a squeeze.

“Don’t sweat it, Sunshine,” Gilda said, her voice getting back some of its usual bravado. “You didn’t know, s’not that big’a deal anyway. You had a question, I gave you an answer. If I didn’t wanna answer it I wouldn’t’ve, savvy?”

Sunset nodded, then looked back and over her shoulder up at Gilda. “Yeah, still, I guess it’s just one of those things I’ll never really connect with y’know? I never had anyone to ‘lose’ in the parental department. It was just me for the longest time.”

Fishing around in her pocket, Gilda pulled out her pack of cigarettes and tapped a couple out, passing one down to Sunset who took it gratefully along with the proffered match.

Lighting it, Sunset took a long drag before letting out a satisfied breath of smoke. “Ugh, Elysium’s tits, that hit the spot, thanks, babe.”

“You and your fuckin’ swears, Sunflower,” Gilda laughed. “Someday you gotta tell me how you come up with that shit.”

“Tonight,” Sunset promised with a smile.

They stopped just outside the main entrance to finish their cigarettes, watching as the people walked by. A few of them Sunset recognized from school but none of them seemed to recognize her in return. Fair enough, she wasn’t looking normal and her most noticeable feature, her red and gold hair, was bundled up in her jacket and beanie. Maybe that was for the best though, she wasn’t sure how comfortable she would be getting noticed.

“You alright, babe?” Gilda asked, looking down as she flicked the butt of her cigarette into the ashtray on top of a nearby trash can. “You look kinda jittery.”

“Just nerves, y’know?” Sunset answered uneasily. “It’s… weird, being out in this thing. I know I said I needed to do it, and I do, but it doesn’t stop it from feeling weird.”

Gilda shrugged. “Yeah, fair enough, but either way ya still got me, and we can leave whenever ya want, savvy?”

“Heh, ‘savvy’,” Sunset replied, blowing a smoky kiss towards Gilda.

Once their cigarettes were finished the two entered the mall, weaving through the stacks of outfits, purses, makeup and other decor items that Rarity probably would’ve found endlessly fascinating. The thought brought a pang of sadness to Sunset’s heart but it wasn’t as painful as she had expected it to be. The wound was healing, with time and with love.

‘Especially that last one,’ Sunset thought warmly, stealing a glance at Gilda who was pushing her through the aisles with a bored, glazed look in her eyes. ‘Guess she’s not a closet fashionista then, not that I’m surprised.’

When they finally made it into the mall proper Sunset had to admit she was impressed. She rarely went to the Emporium, maybe once or twice during her entire tenure on this world, and only for a very specific reason. Now, though, she had no real purpose but to wander about and in doing so she had the opportunity to appreciate not only the size of the multi-level mall but the size of the crowds.

Sunset swallowed hard as her nerves reared up again. “M-maybe this wasn’t such a hot idea, Gil…”

“I know it’s tough right now, babe,” Gilda said soothingly. “But give it an hour, okay? If you’re still on nails after that then we’ll am’scray, deal?”

Taking a shaky breath, Sunset nodded. “Deal.”

The two made their way through the crowds, Gilda did her best to stick to the sides and avoid the middle of the thoroughfares that had thick crowds moving through them pretty much constantly. Sunset did her best to banish her nerves; drumming her fingers, humming along to the mindless tunes played over the mall p.a. system, and generally just distracting herself. One of the few things that did well to distract her was the non-generic music. Every so often, between shops or at corners of the mall, someone would be leaning against the wall, sitting on a stool, or just on a mat on the ground and playing an instrument. There was something… lively about it. They stayed a few times but always moved on and the nerves came back.

“Mind if we hit the food court, Sunshine?” Gilda asked, looking down. “It’ll be crowded but I’m starvin’.”

“I think that’ll be fine,” Sunset answered. “People sitting and eating isn’t a big deal, no one’s looking at me, after all. People go to food courts to stuff their faces.”

Gilda laughed, leaning down to kiss Sunset on the cheek. “Fair point, alright, let’s go get something deep fried and greasy.”

“My hero,” Sunset replied dryly.

Malls were, by their nature, places of convenience. All things that might be generally wanted or needed by the immediate populace collected in a single place under a single roof for easy perusal. That being said there was a certain matter prevalent in multi-level malls. One that was especially irritating for Sunset.

Stairs.

“Goddammit, I’m like a fucking Dalek over here,” Sunset groused, glaring at the spiraling stairs as she and Gilda waited in line ten people deep. “What kind of electrical socket-licking architectural dropout thought three lifts were enough to service an entire three-level mall?!”

Gilda was cackling, leaning hard on Sunset’s wheelchair as her girlfriend vented her frustrations about the lift situation. It was almost fifteen minutes of unstoppable vitriol from the redheaded spitfire before they finally got onto the lift and started up. By that point, most of the line was laughing along with them.

“Baby?” Gilda said between chuckles as the numbers ticked up on the lift. “Never change, okay? That was hilarious.”

“I wasn’t trying to be funny,” Sunset scrunched her face up but failed to keep her anger with her girlfriend absentmindedly stroking her fingers up and down Sunset’s cheek and neck. Blowing out a breath, Sunset leaned into Gilda’s touch. “So what’re you hungry for?”

“Dunno,” Gilda replied. “You know me, Sunshine, not a real picky gal.”

The corners of the upper level nearest the food court were given over to nicer sit-down style restaurants. A Marexican place, an upscale bistro, and a cozy Neighpon Sushi restaurant were some of the nicer ones. In the adjoining plaza were the more fast food style locales. A variety of food types from around the globe were up on offer but most of them had especially long lines.

“Damn, the way this is lookin’ we’d probably get our food faster at one of the sit-downs,” Gilda grumbled. “But those places are kinda spendy…”

Sunset reached up and touched Gilda’s hand. “Hey, we can swing it. I was homeless, not penniless. The reason I lived in that place was that I was frugal. I had to make the money I had last, but now… well, I’ve got some money laying around. Not a lot but if we’re going to be together then it’s both of ours.”

Gilda shuffled her feet a little. “W-well, yeah but…”

“Sunset Shimmer, as I live and breathe,” a familiar, haughty voice said from behind the two teens.

Eyes widening in recognition, Sunset took control of her chair and wheeled around to stare at the terribly familiar face that went along with the voice. She looked just like Sunset remembered her: long legs and wide hips, a full, seductive smile, and sharp, intelligent eyes. All backed with the most enormous poof of orange hair.

“A-Adagio Dazzle?” Sunset stammered, staring at the former Siren. “What… why…”

Stepping up to glare down at the confidently smirking Equestrian exile, Gilda reached out to take a hold of Sunset’s hand, never taking her eyes off of Adagio.

“Oh relax, Shimmy,” Adagio laughed before gesturing to herself. She was wearing a tailored waitress uniform that had the simple insignia of Koi Sushi on it. “I’m a law-abiding citizen now, we Sirens had to find something to do with our lives once you stripped our magic from us.”

That was true, it’s not like they could get up to any kind of trouble except the normal non-magical kind without their pendants. That didn’t mean Sunset trusted them, they were devious and predatory creatures from another dimension so a certain amount of caution felt warranted.

“Yeah well, forgive me if I don’t immediately trust every word that comes out of your mouth,” Sunset replied, narrowing her eyes at Adagio. “You caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people back at CHS.”

Adagio didn’t respond, instead all expression seemed to leave her face as she eyed Sunset up and down for almost a full minute to the point that Sunset was getting a little uncomfortable with the naked scrutiny. Gilda flagged her hand in front of Adagio’s face, earning an annoyed glance from the Siren.

“Hey,” Gilda barked, “what’s with the eyeballin’ huh? Don’t you have something better to do, puffball?”

“No, not really,” Adagio said softly before turning around and leaning back towards the shop. “Ms. Koi? I’m off shift, but I’m going to be having lunch with some friends here, is that alright?”

Sunset stared at the sudden change in Adagio’s demeanor and voice. She went from her usual contemptuous tone to sounding almost like a normal girl. Albeit one with a huge ego, just not an ego that could consume an entire continent in its hubris. A short Neighponese woman came out from behind the counter with a serving tray and smiled.

“Of course, Adagio, there’s a table in the corner,” she pointed off to the side. “I’ll have Maki start your usual.”

“You’re a gem, Koi,” Adagio responded with a grin, then gestured for Gilda and Sunset to follow her as she stepped back towards the restaurant. “Well? Come on, I’m not going to bite. I just wanted to talk for a moment, Shimmy. Your guard dog can come too if it makes you feel better.”

“Gilda is my girlfriend,” Sunset snarled with sudden, fierce heat. Enough to make both Adagio and Gilda start.

Adagio stared in surprise at Sunset for a few seconds before making an odd motion. She touched the tips of her fingers to her throat, lips, and forehead in a quick tapping motion, then held her hand out, palm up, for a moment before making a quick bob of her head.

“My apologies,” Adagio said softly. “Sunset Shimmer, I would be honored if you and your consort would please join me for a meal?”

Gilda and Sunset both blushed slightly at the sudden heavy formality, and deference, Adagio showed them. It seemed entirely… uncharacteristic of the normally imperious Siren leader.

“Uh… apology accepted,” Sunset said slowly before rolling forward. “I… accept the generosity of your invitation, and the kindness of your hospitality, Adagio Dazzle.”

It was a formal Equestrian acceptance of an offer, one that Sunset hadn’t used since she left Celestia’s tutelage, but it had a clear enough wording, at least politically, that it placed on the onus of the guest’s safety in the hands of the one offering the hospitality. If Adagio was going to play the court game, Sunset would play it better. Even if she was a little rusty after so many years in the human world.

Following close behind Sunset, Gilda tapped her girlfriend on her shoulder and gave her a questioning look. Sunset just shook her head and nodded for them to follow the bobbing orange puff of hair that was weaving between the tables. Shrugging Gilda took hold of the handles on Sunset’s chair and steered her towards the table that Koi had pointed out. It was a small booth near the back corner, the whole restaurant had a warm illumination reminiscent of candlelight suffusing it and it was oriented in such a way as to block out the majority of the sound from the busy mall outside.

Gilda parked Sunset at the head of the table and took a seat across from Adagio, reaching out to grip Sunset’s hand while glaring sullenly at the suddenly quiet Siren.

“So what’s your game here, huh?” Gilda asked directly, fixing her golden gaze on Adagio. Instead of answering, Adagio simply flicked her eyes between Sunset, Gilda, and the wheelchair until Koi appeared to take their order.

“Can we get my and my sisters' usual spread, Ms. Koi?” Adagio asked with something like actual kindness in her voice. “And a starter of calamari.”

“Of course, dear,” Koi responded before turning to Sunset and Gilda. “Drinks?”

“Hot tea,” Sunset responded.

Gilda took her eyes off of Adagio finally to respond. “Water for me, thanks.”

Koi noted down their orders and then walked away. Adagio turned back to the two teens and smiled. “She’s a very kind woman. This shop was on the verge of going under until an anonymous investor suddenly provided an influx of cash that propped it back up with a few stipulations on business management and maintenance.”

Sunset blinked in confusion. “Y-you mean, you… why?”

“Because it’s my favorite restaurant in this sea-forsaken town,” Adagio responded. “And because Koi is an absolute love and a genius sushi chef. She just has no clue how to manage money well on a business scale.”

“Where did you even get that kind of money?” Gilda asked, glaring at her ‘host’.

Adagio just laughed. “My sisters and I have been on this planet for close to a millennium, my dear. We’re old hands at this sort of thing. True, we can’t just get money now by simply ‘asking’ for it, but we don’t really need to at this stage,” she just gestured to the restaurant around the three of them as proof. “Sonata might be a complete ditz in the real world but put her in front of a spreadsheet and she’ll crank out a fifteen-year investment plan with a guaranteed seventy per cent return.”

“So… what, you’re just normal people now?” Sunset asked, leaning forward in her chair. “But if you’re so rich why would you even work here?”

Adagio just shrugged. “What else am I going to do? I get bored rather easily and this seems like a perfectly good way to pass the time while keeping a weather eye on my investment from the ground floor, as it were.”

“Gotta say, I’m a lot more curious ‘bout why you’re all buddy-buddy with us,” Gilda cut in. “Given what Sunshine here did during the Battle of the Bands.”

“Yes, well,” Adagio just waved her hand as if dismissing it. “What’s done is done. Among Sirens, if one’s voice is outsung by another, then that’s that. Our voices were our weapons in both debate and destruction. In fact, in my culture one was kin to the other. You played the game of my people and beat my sister’s and I at it fairly. I can’t pretend I’m not a little… sore about that, but that is a matter of personal pride, nothing more,” Adagio ran her fingers over the spot on her throat where her old gem used to rest as she spoke. “Bowing out gracefully is how we ought to respond. Besides… it doesn’t seem to have worked out so well for you either, Shimmy dear.”

They were interrupted by the arrival of their drinks and the fried calamari which was placed between them. Sunset took a sip of her tea and hummed in delight as the warmth filled her. Adagio popped one of the fried tentacles into her mouth and bit down with a sharp crunch as Gilda glared at the odd platter with distaste.

“I guess… that makes a certain kind of sense,” Sunset answered as she set down her tea. “I guess my next question is why you approached us at all? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to just let us pass by?”

Adagio responded with a Cheshire grin. “You misunderstand, Shimmy. Just because I’m willing to bow out doesn’t mean I’m not me. I followed that hilarious Anon-A-Miss matter at Canterlot High, it was a delightful catastrophe. I approached you fully intending to spend a few minutes relentlessly mocking you over losing all of your friends and your entire reputation in the span of a week.”

That elicited a threatening growl from Gilda, and a frown from Sunset, while Adagio just laughed. “What? I accepted my defeat, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a little petty, vengeful vindication over the one who defeated me.”

“So why treat us to lunch?” Gilda snarled. “To make fun of Sunflower here? Or me? Don’t think I won’t flip a table, puffball.”

Adagio held up both hands in placation. “I’d appreciate a modicum of restraint in here, please. And no… I treated you because when I saw you, in that chair, my desire to mock you suddenly felt… significantly less amusing. I realised that you saved an entire school and in return, you were left forsaken and broken by those who owed you their lives.” Sunset began to speak but Adagio cut her off immediately. “Do not mistake this for pity, because it’s not. It’s… empathy. Empathy for a fellow warrior who has lost something fundamental to them.”

Neither Gilda nor Sunset knew precisely how to respond to that. Adagio’s words had the ring of honest truth to them. Fortunately, they were saved from the awkward silence by the arrival of their food. Four platters of fine sushi rolls were set alongside the calamari that Adagio had been picking at. Sunset reached out and plucked a piece for herself and popped in her mouth, biting down and starting in surprise at the flavor.

“It’s… it’s almost like popcorn,” Sunset said as she swallowed the calamari. “That’s delicious.”

Adagio grinned widely. “My sisters hate it, but it’s my absolute favorite. It’s good to meet a woman after my own heart, Shimmy dear. Try the rolls though, they’re even better. Far more filling too.”

She wasn’t wrong. Sunset and Gilda both dove in with gusto as they began slowly working through the rolls. It was a strange experience for the two of them; unlike most western dining traditions, the platters weren’t designed to be eaten by one person alone. Rather each person would take what they wished from every platter with respect for how much they were eating and how much others had eaten as well. It was a practice of conscientiousness for the two of them but at the same time, it felt more like a meal with friends. Sharing food had a certain primal bonding quality to it.

Finally, the meal came to an end. Adagio ordered another round of hot tea, even one for Gilda who, after trying some of Sunset’s, found she actually kind of liked it.

“Still a coke and jack kinda gal,” Gilda assured her two tablemates with a grin. “But that hot leaf juice ain’t half bad.”

“I’ll bear that in mind,” Adagio replied sardonically.

“So you’re here,” Sunset interjected, any hostility having left her voice over the course of the meal. “What are Sonata and Aria doing?”

“Well,” Adagio replied as she took the check and laid a plastic card over it before handing it back to Koi. “Sonata, I mentioned, is best suited in front of a data set. She’s the ‘account manager’ for this little business technically. As well as about a dozen others. This shop looks to make a tidy profit next fiscal year thanks to my dear sister’s talents. Her dire hunger for tacos notwithstanding, I do love her.”

“And the purple fighty one?” Gilda asked. “I kinda liked her.”

Adagio shrugged. “She started binge-watching those MMA fights a year back. Once we settled down from our defeat and started deciding what to do with ourselves, Aria opted to take the opportunity to take up the sport; gladiatorial bloodsports always did catch my more combative sister’s eye.”

“Oh yeah?” Sunset asked with a laugh. “How’s that going for her?”

“She’s four for four in the local circuit with a shot at the regional title next month,” Adagio answered with a smirk. “It turns out all that time learning Pankration and Pencak Silat are serving her well, even if both of her tutors expelled her halfway through for her over-enthusiastic application of the styles to other students bodies.”

“And how about you?” Adagio asked softly, her eyes falling on Sunset. “What’s next for the great ‘Sunset Shimmer’, hm?”

Sunset opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. What was next? Going back to school? Back to CHS? To all the people who had abandoned her? She was a Junior so, best case scenario, she had to spend the rest of Junior year with them and Senior year as well. Unless she wanted to transfer. Crystal Prep was nearby, within bus distance anyway, but it was a private school. Unless she got a load of scholarships she’d never get in. She might manage it, but was it worth it to even try? Or she could drop out but that was just running away and if she was being honest with herself… she was tired of running.

But what about going home?

Back to Equestria?

Was that running away from, or running to something?

She wanted to make up with Princess Celestia. Sunset had wanted to do that practically since the moment she first stepped into the human world. Her foalish pride had gotten her in deeper than she ever meant to, though. Now she had a chance, not only to get her full body control back: magic and all, but to mend the bridges that she had burnt between her old mentor and herself.

“I don’t know, honestly,” Sunset finally said. “I’ll be honest… I’m pretty lost right now. I don’t have anyone but Gilda anymore.” Smiling, Sunset reached out and put her hand on Gilda’s arm. “She’s my whole world now, I wouldn’t even have a home if not for her. But I’m really not sure what to do with myself.”

“Hey, we’ll figure it out, Sunshine,” Gilda said with her usual self-assured and cocky grin. “You’ve got the brains and skill to rip this whole world a new one.”

Adagio laughed, a bright, and surprisingly pleasant sound from the acerbic, young-looking woman. “You know, Gilda, you’re not wrong,” she said finally before turning back to Sunset. “If you’d like some advice from someone who’s an old hand at coming back from downswings, take a little time to figure out where you landed.”

“What does that even mean?” Sunset asked grimly. “Look at me,” she said, gesturing downward. “I didn’t ‘land’ I face-planted. All I’ve got is a face full of dirt.”

“I think you’re too pessimistic,” Adagio retorted. “Your lover is right, you’ve got plenty of skills and from what I’ve heard your mind has always been your greatest asset anyway.”

The word ‘lover’ put a bright blush on both Gilda and Sunset’s faces. “Damn, puffball, say it a little louder next time, will ya?” Gilda replied sullenly, trying to rub the red off her cheeks.

Adagio just laughed. “Oh, you two are precious. At any rate, my advice is this: Sunset, take some time to relax, decompress, do something you enjoy for a bit. Let the rest of the world turn as it may until you’ve situated yourself. It’s always worked for my sisters and me, I expect it will be just as effective for you. You’re still young, take advantage of that.”

“Hey Adagio,” Sunset said abruptly, “can I ask you something?” One red eyebrow lifted in question on Adagio’s face but she gave a silent nod of assent. Sunset fiddled with her tea for a moment before asking, “so you seemed a lot more… mellow, than you did at the Battle.”

“Mm, that’s a very politic way of saying ‘less of a bitch’, Shimmy,” Adagio answered with a grin. “But you’re right, I’ll answer with this: have you ever heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’?”

“Yeah,” Sunset answered curiously, “but you three fed off of magic, right?”

Adagio shook her head. “No, we absorbed negative emotions through the medium of magic. Your little friendship cannon ended our magic but also broke our curse; the need to devour negative emotions. Turns out when you’re not saturating yourself in small-minded pettiness and cruelty all the time, your outlook tends to brighten somewhat.”

“So your feeding habits were affecting your moods?” Sunset clarified, leaning in.

Nodding, Adagio took another sip of her tea. “In a sense, it was more general demeanors. As we devoured the vindictive cruelties and argumentative pettiness of our prey… it turned us petty, vindictive, and argumentative. To be honest, I want to thank you on that count. It’s been a long time since my sisters and I have felt… good.”

“You’re welcome,” Sunset replied, “and for whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry it had to come at the expense of your magic. I know how that feels.”

Adagio stared at Sunset in surprise for a moment before shaking her head and smiling. “You know, I didn’t realise how much I wanted to hear that until you said it. I… accept your apology, Sunset.”

“Sunshine takes you by surprise a lot,” Gilda cut in with a grin, taking another drink of her tea. “Pretty sure ‘unexpected’ is just part of her schtick.”

“That… is probably far from wrong,” Adagio agreed. “At any rate, I should get home to my sisters, we’re going to be spending a lot more time together as sisters should.” Standing up, Adagio sidled out from the booth and held out a hand to Sunset. “Thank you, Shimmer, for talking, come by after you’ve had some time to stick your landing, alright? I’m curious to see how this turns out.”

“I think I can do that, Adagio,” Sunset took the hand of her former enemy and shook.

Adagio smiled warmly. “Call me ‘Dagi, it’s… what my friends call me now that I actually have friends. Another thing I find myself unexpectedly and suddenly thankful for.”

“Adagio Dazzle has friends now,” Sunset said with a chuckle. “Twilight would be absolutely thrilled, you know.”

Waving a hand and scoffing, Adagio shook her head. “Ugh, don’t remind me. I would hate to admit that that purple pony princess was right about anything. Still, stop by again sometime, as odd as this is to admit, I’d like it if we could be… friends.”

“I will, ‘Dagi,” Sunset promised. “Thanks for treating us.”

“Of course, I invited you,” Adagio shot back. “Let me walk you out.”

Gilda and Sunset moved through the restaurant, weaving their way around the patrons with Adagio ahead of them. A few of them greeted her familiarly and Sunset was pleased to see her return the greeting just as kindly. It seemed Adagio did indeed have a renewed outlook on life and now that she considered it, Sunset wasn’t too surprised. Dark magic had all kinds of unpleasant side effects; not the least of which was magnifying the worst aspects of the user’s character. The merely petty became spiteful, the bellicose became violent, the wary became paranoid. It was a known risk of the art and one of the many reasons dark magic was a proscribed art.

When they reached the entrance, Adagio reached out and placed a hand on Gilda’s arm. “Gilda, may I speak with you privately for a moment?”

Gilda looked down at Sunset who just smiled. “Go ahead, I’m not going anywhere, babe.”

Nodding, Gilda turned to Adagio. “Yeah, sure, but… make it quick, savvy?”

Adagio gave a brief nod then walked around the corner of the shop away from the streams of people filtering in, out, and around the restaurant. Once they were situated, the former Siren fixed Gilda with a curious look.

“Gilda, I know this is prying but… how is she? Really, I mean,” Adagio asked, her eyes held a surprising amount of concern.

Sighing, Gilda rubbed the back of her head, for a moment she considered just blowing Adagio off but… “Honestly? I have no fuckin’ clue,” Gilda admitted a little angrily. “She’s like… got this wall around’er, y’know. It’s like nothing phases her til she just loses her shit completely then I gotta pick up the pieces. It’s… she’s havin’ a rough time of it, but I’ve really got no idea where her head actually is.”

“I was afraid of that,” Adagio said softly. “Sunset Shimmer strikes me as a very singular sort of girl, but no one is invincible. If people keep breaking her down eventually there will be nothing left. I personally would find that a horrendous waste of potential. I’m sure you feel much more strongly about it.”

“Y’damn right,” Gilda replied aridly. “I just… I’m doin’ all I can and I barely feel like I’m makin’ a dent, y’know? Shit, why do you even care?”

Adagio sighed and smiled wanly. “I care because when you’re an immortal, you quickly discover that the closest thing to a friend you might ever have is an enemy because they’re the only ones who took the time to get to know you. I want more than that, for myself and my sisters.”

Gilda just shook her head. “Sorry, all this magic shit and immortal stuff are way over my head, puffball. I’m a step above a dropout and not by much, so…”

“You still showed greater cunning and forethought than the other students,” Adagio countered. “I think you’re much more cunning than you let on.” Grinning and stepping up closer, Adagio patted Gilda’s cheek. “That’s high praise coming from a centuries-old manipulator, too.”

Brushing Adagio’s hand off, Gilda stepped back and scowled. “I still don’t trust ya, puff, y’know?”

“I’m aware,” Adagio replied, with a smug look. “As I said, you’re smarter than you let on. I’m not your enemy anymore though, nor am I Shimmy’s. So do me a favor and… just keep an eye on her.”

“I don’t need you t’tell me that,” Gilda groused. “That it?”

“It is, thank you for hearing me out,” Adagio replied. “I understand your distrust, but I am trying to help, alright?”

Gilda sighed and nodded. “Savvy, yeah. I’ll keep an open mind on that one.”

“That’s all I ask,” Adagio assured Gilda. “Now go see to your love, she seems much better with you.”

As Adagio turned to leave the plaza and head down the stairs, Gilda watched her strut away and grimaced. Turning on her own heel to head back to Sunset’s side, she could only think to herself, ‘yeah, here’s hopin’, puffball.’

Sunset was sitting near the entrance to the restaurant nervously drumming her fingers, humming, and counting up by prime numbers while Gilda was talking. Her nerves were eating at her and Gilda could see it on Sunset’s face as she came back. Adagio was right, she was kind of a mess.

Well, that was fine with Gilda. Mess or no, Sunset was her girl.

The ride back to Gilda’s flat was uneventful and quiet. They hadn’t stayed at the mall much longer after leaving Koi Sushi; Sunset had been getting more and antsier as the minutes ticked by and it was even starting to effect Gilda. She’d been getting worried about her girlfriend, it seemed like every moment Sunset was out in the mall she got more and more agitated.

“You okay, babe?” Gilda asked softly as the bus rumbled beneath them. Sunset’s only answer was to shake her head emphatically. “Wanna curl up in a ball’n watch bad horror movies when we get home?”

Finally, a small smile appeared on Sunset’s lips and she gave a tiny but perceptible nod.

“Cool,” Gilda reached out to run her fingers through Sunset’s hair, slowly stroking her head. “We still gonna talk tonight?”

Another nod.

“Aight, just…” Gilda trailed off for a moment, then turned to Sunset, bring her hand around to Sunset’s chin and guiding her up into a warm, soft kiss. “I’m always here for ya, Sunshine, okay? I love you.”

“I know,” Sunset whispered against Gilda’s lips. “I love you too, today was just… a little too much, y’know? I think… I think I might’ve tried to do too much too fast.”

“S’cool, Sunflower,” Gilda murmured. “Maybe shoulda started smaller than the biggest mall in the area, huh?”

Sunset nodded, taking a deep breath and leaned back. “I thought I would be fine. I’m… I’m not. At all. The whole time it felt like I was going to throw up. I just wanted to run, ugh, roll away. It felt like everyone was looking at me, and at the same time like no one even saw me. Just this stupid chair.”

“Things’re different now, babe,” Gilda said, leaning forward and bracing her elbows on her knees. “Wish I had some kinda transcendent bullshit one-liner to fix ya but I don’t. Gotta take it a step at a time.”

The bus rumbled over a pothole and Gilda glanced up at the passing neighborhood, then reached up and pulled the line ordering a stop. The Ponyville Commons drifted by lazily outside the windows, and Sunset leaned her face against the snow-dappled pane of glass, staring out at the old streets and worn shops. For a brief moment, Sunset let herself wallow. Things weren’t as bad as they could be and yet somehow that sentiment was cold comfort. Every aspect of life was starting to become a frustration; from getting up in the morning to use the bathroom, to showering, to just… getting around.

Everything was too much effort.

This coming from the girl who managed to break the transdimensional barrier and set up an, admittedly poorly conceived, coup d'etat using an ancient magical artifact over the course of several years of exile.

Now just getting out of bed was a chore Sunset was beginning to question the worthiness of. To say nothing about interacting with people. The idea of having to explain to every other sun-damned person and their dog about how she ended up in this infernal wheeled reminder of her disability made her want to bury herself in the bed and never come out. Even if she didn’t voice it, Sunset knew that Gilda was the only reason she even got out of bed today at all. Everything outside the little flat was just too loud, or too far, or too hard.

Everything was just… too much.

“So tomorrow,” Gilda started, reaching out to take Sunset’s hand. “I got my first day’a work at the auto shop.”

“Mhm…” Sunset felt the bus hitch slightly as the breaks engaged, slowing it down as they approached the bus stop by Gilda’s flat.

“Ya wanna come with?”

Sunset looked up at Gilda in confusion. “Why?”

Gilda just shrugged. “Well, I kinda promised the guys who hired me I’d eventually introduce’m to the girl who ‘made an honest woman outta me’.”

Her jaw hung open for a moment as Sunset processed that, and then she started laughing uproariously. Gilda covered her quickly reddening face as she got up and started the process of unbelting Sunset’s wheelchair which was not made easier by its occupant’s barely restrained fit of giggles. Sunset was still cackling as Gilda rolled her off the bus ramp and onto the sidewalk.

“Gilda Grimfeather, you’ve only ever been an honest woman,” Sunset said warmly as the flat door came into view. “I’m pretty sure it’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you as hard as I did.”

Reaching into her pocket, Gilda retrieved the key and slotted it in. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t always… used to run with a pretty ‘hood gang back in Las Pegasus. Foster kids pretty much get ignored wherever they go so, y’know, gotta find friends somewhere.”

“Sounds like an exciting story,” Sunset responded wryly.

“Someday, maybe,” Gilda replied, her face turning a little stony. “Sorry babe, there’s a reason I ain’t there instead’a here, savvy?”

“Oh… okay,” Sunset’s voice fell and Gilda felt a pang in her heart at the tone.

“H-hey,” Gilda kicked the door open and pushed Sunset in, shutting out the cold and coming around the kneel in front of her chair. “It ain’t like that, babe. I promise, I just… it’s hard, okay? I… a friend’a mine… she died. I don’t really know how to talk about it is all.”

“Oh my god,” Sunset gasped. “W-what… how?”

“That’s a long story, babe,” Gilda replied grimly, “but I’ll tell ya eventually, promise. I just… wanna think on it a bit. It’s kinda hard to figure out how ta say it, y’know? You gotta way with words, I’m kinda… rough with’m.”

Sunset leaned forward and kissed Gilda gently. “If it makes you feel any better, you always have the right words for me when I’m feeling down.”

Grinning, Gilda stepped back as Sunset wheeled herself the rest of the way into the flat. The moment the door had closed on the outside Sunset felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. In here, she was safe. Intellectually she knew that was the start of a complex, one she didn’t want to get a hold of her, but at the same time her emotions were a mess and she couldn’t deny the visceral comfort of being in ‘her’ space rather than the outside. Out there was everything that had isolated and tormented her. In here were the familiar sights and sounds of everything she loved, everything that brought her comfort.

“So ya never answered,” Gilda asked as she hung up her jacket. “I’d… I’d like it if ya come along. It’s not far and it’s pretty quiet. If ya ain’t feelin’ it I can always walk ya home.”

At first, Sunset wanted to say no, she really did. Except… she knew that instinct was wrong. It felt wrong. It felt like running away and running away always felt wrong to Sunset Shimmer. It felt wrong when she ran from Celestia through the mirror, it felt wrong now. Except now she wasn’t drunk on anger and self-righteous confidence.

Sunset Shimmer didn’t run away.

She did, however, learn to take things slowly when called for.

“Yeah, okay, for a little while at least,” Sunset agreed. “I… I think it’ll be a better first step than diving headfirst into the mall. In retrospect that wasn’t very well thought out.”

“Yeah, but ya’ve always been ambitious, Sunshine,” Gilda said as she walked into the little kitchenette and starting warming up some stew. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”

“D-do you think they’ll mind if I bring my guitar?” Sunset asked, eyeing her instrument. “Playing a little music might help keep me distracted from being outside.”

Gilda nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be fine, I’ll shoot Crankshaft a text and ask’m though.”

Sunset wheeled over to the bed and leaned in to take a grip on the handle, lifting and swinging herself from the chair to the mattress before pulling her legs up with her. Reaching down to the side of the bed, she grabbed her duffel bag and began rooting through it, eventually finding the items she was looking for. The first was her Journal. Her one link to Equestria aside from the portal. The other was the bracelet which she had been beyond relieved to discover was still intact and safe in the hidden pocket. Gilda came around to the bed a few moments later with stew and took her place beside Sunset. They ate in comfortable silence, Sunset leaning against her girlfriend, occasionally turning her head to nuzzle Gilda’s arm.

Once the food was finished and the bowls were set aside, Sunset laid the two objects on the bed. She saw Gilda’s eyes widen at the sight of the bracelet.

“It was the last gift I ever received,” Sunset said softly. “But this,” she laid her hand on the Journal, “was by far the more important one.”

“Okay,” Gilda leaned back and stared at the book. “What is it? Diary?”

“More like a smartphone, actually,” Sunset said with a small laugh. “It’s magic.”

Gilda groaned. “Right, the wings and stuff. What’s up with that?”

That was the real question. Sunset let out a sigh and tried to figure out how to start. How do you explain magic without sounding crazy? How do you explain that you’re actually a brightly colored unicorn sorceress from another dimension without sounding significantly worse? Maybe… Sunset picked up her Journal and ran a hand over the cover.

“Maybe I should start at the very beginning,” Sunset said; taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and called up the old words of one of the first stories she ever learned. “Bear with me on this one, Gil, it’s a little long and a little silly, but it’s how I learned it, okay?”

“Uh, sure, Sunflower,” Gilda said with a chuckle.

“Okay…” opening her eyes, Sunset stared off into the distance. “Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land…”

“...and in the end, I was struck down by the magic of the elements I had tried to steal for myself. I learned the hard way that no one person can command the magic of friendship like that, it led me to those five girls and then… eventually to you, Gil.”

It was dark outside the window by the time everything was done with and Sunset had finished her story. Gilda hadn’t interrupted or spoken the entire time. Choosing instead just to listen to her girlfriend tell her tale. Unbelievable as it was, Gilda couldn’t really deny it. She had flown so… a certain suspension of disbelief was in order.

“The short of it now,” Sunset continued, “is that magic is here to stay, I think. Ever since I woke the Element of Magic in this world, things have been a little… weird. The fact that you suddenly developed the ability to sprout wings attests to that.”

Gilda nodded. “I guess it’s tough to argue with that. Gonna say it again, babe, I am not smart enough for this shit. But if you say that’s what happened, then I believe ya. Still… you were a, uh… a horse?”

“No,” Sunset answered a little uneasily. “I was born a unicorn pony. There’s pretty much zero relation between my original species and the equines of this world. Aside from the total lack of sentience, magic, and the like. Plus, the phenotypic appearance is, at best, passing. We’re hooved quadrupeds with a coat and a mane, the same could be said about any number of species.”

“Still… kinda weird for me to think about, y’know,” Gilda admitted.

Sunset bit her lip and fidgeted as she looked down at her hands, she realised she was shaking. “I-is it… t-too weird?”

Gilda blinked in confusion before the lightbulb clicks on in her head and she immediately reached out and grabbed Sunset’s shaking hands. “N-no! It’s not… I didn’t mean it like that, babe, I swear!”

Without letting Sunset respond, Gilda pulled her close and kissed her fiercely. Sunset shuddered in her girlfriend's arms as she wrapped herself around Gilda as much as possible while trying not to cry in relief. Gilda trailed her fingers down Sunset’s back and sides as they kissed again and again, she didn’t know how to say it in a way that would sound right so, as usual, all Gilda could think to do was show Sunset how she felt.

Finally pulling away, both panting and flushed, the taller girl drew Sunset closer and hugged her, burying her face in Sunset’s red hair. “I love you, Sunflower. I will always love you, savvy? I don’t give a damn who or what you were before all’a this, so don’t ever think I’ll stop lovin’ you for something that happened before we met, yeah?”

Sunset nodded silently against Gilda’s chest and after a moment, the tears came out in full. It was like a dam broke and all Sunset could do was grip onto Gilda as the sobs came out in wracking heaves. Even leading up to the conversation Sunset hadn’t realised how terrified she’d been to tell Gilda the truth about her origins. How scared she had been that being in a relationship, being in love, with an actual alien regardless of how human she looked, would have been too much of a strain. For Gilda’s part, she did what she always did. She held Sunset close, petting her hair, and kissing her softly on top of her head and rocking her back and forth as she cried.

“I love you,” Sunset finally sobbed out, “I love you so much, Gil, I really, really do… I promise I do.”

Gilda felt tears sting her own eyes as she pulled her arms tighter around Sunset. “I know you do, Sunshine, I never doubted it for a second.”

“I was so scared,” Sunset cried. “I was so scared you’d be afraid of me, or… or you’d be disgusted… or something. I was so scared that you’d leave me!”

“Ah, babe…” Gilda brought her hand up to brush the tears from Sunset’s face, trailing her thumb across her girlfriend's lips, she looked Sunset in the eyes. “Never, y’hear me? I’m never gonna leave you, or be afraid of you, or anything like that, savvy?”

Sniffling a little, Sunset nodded and buried her head in GIlda’s chest again, taking slow, deep breaths. Gilda’s scent was calming. Familiar. The scent of leather and cigarette smoke, to Sunset, now meant warmth, and safety, and love.

Pulling back, Sunset reached for the Journal and thumbed through it for a few minutes before stopping on a particular page.

“I use this Journal to talk to Princess Twilight,” Sunset said softly, her voice a little cracked from crying. “It delivers whatever I write in it to its twin on her side of the mirror, and vice versa.”

“Huh,” Gilda picked up the Journal and examined it. “That’s… actually pretty cool. Talkin’ between dimensions? That’s like, sci-fi stuff right there, Sunshine.”

“Read it,” Sunset said, pointing to the entry she’d opened to. “All of it, straight to the last page I’ve written on. I want you to see something.”

Gilda looked down at it then back up at Sunset. “Uh, y’sure? This is your Journal, right?”

“Gilda, I just admitted to you I was born a fancy talking magic pony,” Sunset deadpanned. “I’m not gonna quibble over you reading part of my journal that I am expressly telling you to read.”

Sighing, and still feeling a little awkward reading her girlfriend’s journal, Gilda looked down at the page and began to read the first entry.

Dear Twilight,

I’m not really sure how to say this.

They left me. All of them. That thing with Anon-A-Miss I mentioned in my last entry? It got really bad. Pictures from our slumber party got posted. Pictures from my phone. They think it was me. All five of them think it was me. They just left me crying on the floor.

What do I do?

I’m scared Twilight. I’m all alone now.

Your Very Frightened Friend,

Sunset Shimmer

Gilda grit her teeth in anger. She’d almost forgotten how bad it had been. Those weeks ago when they’d left Sunset in the middle of the hall sobbing. Even back then it had made her feel sick to her stomach. Now she knew it was because, even then, she had feelings for Sunset.

The fiery, confident, and beautiful girl was hard not to crush on.

But even then it filled her throat with bile. Gilda turned the page to the next entry trying to not think about the bullshit the Rainbrats had put her girl through.

Dear Twilight,

I… I met someone new. A new friend I mean. I’m kinda surprised but I have to admit it feels good. I don’t think I’ve ever made a friend by myself before. It’s really hard to trust but… with her it’s easy.

I know my last message was pretty… bad. It’s still bad.

The girls won’t talk to me, the whole school hates me. Today I scrubbed graffiti off of my locker that read: ‘she-demon’. I couldn’t stop crying while I did it.

No one stopped to help. One person shot a spitball at my head while I was scrubbing. Sorry… I’m rambling.

I think you’d like her though, she’s got a bad reputation here at school but I can relate to that, her name is Gilda Grimfeather.

Also… she’s got dark skin and this beautiful white hair. She’s just... like, stupid-pretty.

Your Flustered Friend,

Sunset Shimmer

Between the spitballs, the graffiti, and the compliments… Gilda wasn’t sure if she wanted to hit something or blush. She knew things were bad for Sunset but she hadn’t realised just how bad they had gotten. Even when she had tried to protect her there was only so much she could do.

The urge to burn that whole stupid school down was getting stronger. Gilda turned the next page to try and distract herself.

Dear Twilight,

Gilda and I got into a fight. It was… pretty bad. She got angry at another student for taking a shot at me over Anon-A-Miss and was about to beat him up. I stopped her and then she got mad at me over it. We started yelling and… and she said something really hurtful.

I yelled at her. I called her a bitch. And then I tried to walk away.

I’m so, so glad she didn’t let me. She grabbed me from behind and just heaved me up. I was literally kicking and screaming and she was just shaking and apologising over and over. It was a big mess. Then she set me down and she looked like she was about to cry. Gilda is… she’s like a rock. She’s unbreakable. She’s…

Twilight, I’ve never felt so bad about almost anything in my life. She looked like she was in so much pain… Celestia, I felt like such a horrible person. But… we talked it out.

I was so scared she was going to stop being my friend that I almost abandoned her just like… just like they did to me. Just so I didn’t have to be the one being abandoned again.

But then she made me a promise. Gilda promised that so long as I never gave up on her, that she would never, ever give up on me.

Twilight… you know how stubborn I am about giving up at literally anything.

I think Gilda and I are gonna be together forever.

Friends. I mean we’ll be friends forever.

Why is it so hot in here all of a sudden.

Your Overheating Friend,

Sunset Shimmer

That had been a rough day. Gilda wiped a tear from her eye as she remembered their spat in the skate park. She’d said some pretty horrible shit to Sunset. That was by and far not her proudest moment. But then they’d made that promise. One that Gilda held on to as the most important oath she’d ever made to anyone.

Sunset was the most important person in Gilda’s life, that was a fact. Turning the page, Gilda kept reading on to the next entry.

Dear Twilight,

Uhm… we sorta slept together?

Not like that! I mean like, she slept next to me. Gilda. I mean.

Wow. It’s really hot in here.

I slept over at her place, and I… kinda had some really bad and really loud nightmares. Gilda called them ‘night terrors’, apparently they’re a psychological disorder over here that can be brought on by traumatic events. I guess both morphing into a demoness and getting abandoned by all of your friends qualifies.

But yeah… so I woke her up by accident and I thought she’d be mad. Instead, she got into bed next to me and held me so I wouldn’t have any more nightmares. I fell asleep right away and it was the best sleep I’ve had in forever.

I’m pretty sure I’m in love.

Help?

Your Useless Lesbian Friend,

Sunset Shimmer

Gilda was blushing furiously at this point, half-covering her face as she read through the entry. She knew that was basically where it all started, the feelings were there for a while but that’s where their relationship essentially became inevitable. It seemed like both of them had pretty much resolved to move their friendship into something more.

‘Best decision of my fuckin’ life, that was’, Gilda thought cheerfully as she turned the page. Her face fell as she read the next entry though.

Dear Twilight,

I almost died last night. I almost wish I had. I’m crippled now, the doctor said the damage to my spine was so severe I’d never walk again. Something about bone fragments in my spinal disks, I don’t even know what I would have done if Gilda hadn’t been there holding me the whole time.

It all kind of fuzzed out for me.

But… but Gilda asked me to be her girlfriend. I told her I loved her, Twilight, and she said it back to me too. She said she loves me. She loves me, Twilight!

I literally have no idea what to feel right now. My legs don’t work. I’m a cripple who can’t even walk to the bathroom. But… but Gilda loves me!

She said I’m the girl she flew for. She called me the light of her life!

Gilda loves me, Twilight! I love her so goddamn much!

I’m gonna go throw up and then cry until I pass out now.

Your Overwhelmed Friend,

Sunset Shimmer

Gilda reached out and pulled Sunset close, nuzzling the top of her head. She hadn’t realised exactly how destructive that day had been. Feelings weren’t really Gilda’s specialty but even she could tell that was some serious emotional whiplash happening there.

“Hey, babe?” Gilda said, drawing a look from Sunset. “I love you more than anything else in the world.”

Sunset opened her mouth in surprise, then blushed, then smiled. “I… I love you too, Gil, so, so much.”

Satisfied, Gilda went back to reading.

Dear Twilight,

We’re living together now. Gilda modified parts of her flat so I could get around easier. Like, she screwed in handles near the bed and the toilet so I could move between them and my chair more easily. She laid down rugs so my wheelchair had more traction. She even sawed down the legs of her bed and replaced the mattress.

I don’t deserve her. She’s perfect, Twilight. I love her so much.

I thought about what you said, I’ve been thinking about it a lot actually. I’m still going to wait to give my answer but I’m pretty sure at this point I know what it will be.

Tell Princess Celestia I miss her, give her my love. I will visit eventually, I promise. Right now though… I don’t want to be away from Gilda. Right now I’m sitting in the bed we share, writing this while she’s in the shower, and I can’t imagine being without her.

I’ve got it bad, Twilight.

Your Happily In Love Friend,

Sunset Shimmer

Gilda sat the book down and looked over at Sunset. She wasn’t really sure what to say. Sunset’s side of things were pretty unambiguously laid bare in the Journal. Gilda didn’t have anything even remotely similar. She had a tendency to wear her heart on her sleeve protected by a firm left hook. Clear for all to see but also clearly not vulnerable. Sunset had always left her guessing though, to a certain extent.

“Why?” Gilda asked finally. “Why did you want me to read this, babe?”

Sunset just smiled shyly. “So you would know that, during one of the darkest times in my life, you were my sole light. You still are, right now. I wanted you to see what you meant to me even before.” Wrapping her arms around Gilda, Sunset snuggled into her girlfriend’s side. “I wanted you to know how you made me feel. I… I just want to show you in as many ways as I can how much I love you. Because you deserve to know how much you’re loved, Gilda.”

Gilda planted a warm kiss on Sunset’s lips. “Babe, I know how much ya love me, okay?”

Taking a breath and laying down on the bed, propped up on her elbow, Sunset just shook her head. “Gilda, you asked me earlier, ‘who loves Gilda Grimfeather’ right? Well, I do, and I’m gonna spend a good, long time showing you that. You do so much for me, I wanted you to see it from my eyes for a change, that’s all, ‘savvy’?”

Chuckling at Sunset’s playful wording, Gilda nodded. “Yeah, fine, savvy. I saw it, and I loved it. So… thanks, Sunshine.”

“Anytime, babe,” Sunset responded cheekily before rolling over and grabbing the handle to lift herself to her chair. “Now go grab something awful and bloody while I’m in the bathroom, I need some carnage after all this mushy goop.”

Gilda grinned toothily as Sunset rolled away. She kicked the covers off and stretched, feeling the blood-flow start up again in her legs after sitting for so long. As she got up though, the Journal hummed and glowed from where it lay open on the bed. Writing started to appear on the last page. Twilight Sparkle’s writing. She’d mostly skipped over Twilight’s responses. They were mostly just acknowledging Sunset’s messages and cheering her on. It was nice to know she had Sunset’s friend’s approval.

This one was different though.

Dear Sunset,

Sorry it took me a while to write back. I was doing some research and I feel you should know something. My studies have lead me to believe that Starswhirl keyed the portal to reset at the Winter Solstice, the 21st of December in that world I believe. Specifically, it resets on the years that it opens. Likely it does a full scan on both sides, updates its templates, and then goes dormant for another two and a half years.

Unfortunately, that likely means that, since this year is the year it opened, there is a very good chance your template will get cleared as you’ve been gone for almost five years.

The odds of your original template surviving a second transition are very low. If you want to come back and have full functionality of your legs again, it will have to be before midnight on the 21st. I’m sorry I don’t have better news, but I had to make sure you knew everything.

Your Friend Always,

H.S.H, Twilight Sparkle, Ph.D.

Gilda felt her gut hollow out at the words she’d just read.

Sunset could have her legs back? But only if… only if she left the human world behind. Only if she left Gilda behind. Gilda shut the Journal, and set it off to the side where it continued to glow and buzz. Her mouth felt dry as she considered what that really meant. Sunset could be whole again. Not just her legs but her magic.

Now Gilda understood why it seemed so easy for Sunset to transition to life without using her legs. It wasn’t without emotional blowback but functionally she adapted way faster than Gilda had expected.

After all, what’s losing your legs to losing access to something like magic?

Taking a deep breath, Gilda pushed away everything else in her head. ‘It doesn’t matter what I want. It matters what Sunflower wants.’

“Hey, Sunshine!” Gilda called out, feeling proud of how little her voice cracked. “Y’got a message from the Princess.”

“Oh yeah?” Sunset called out. “Wanna read it out t’me?”

Gilda swallowed hard and closed her eyes. “No, babe… no, I really don’t.”

The silence that followed was deafening, and it stretched out to feel like hours, broken only by the running water of the faucet. The door to the bathroom opened and Sunset wheeled herself out, glancing between Gilda and the Journal where it sat beside her, determinedly buzzing. Sunset dried her hands and rolled over to the bed to pick up the book and flip it open. Her eyes flicked back and forth as she scanned the lines that Twilight had written.

“You saw it?” Sunset asked without looking up.

Gilda nodded. “Yeah, sorry, the book was open to the page when the Princess started writing. Didn’t think about it, just sorta read along.”

Sunset closed the book and set it down. The buzzing had stopped as she finished reading whatever else Twilight had written. Running her hand over the cover, feeling the familiar grooves of the divided sun embossment, Sunset looked up at Gilda.

“What do you think I should do?”

“S’not my decision, Sunshine,” Gilda answered evenly. “Y’get your legs back and all your magic.”

“Yeah, you’re not wrong,” Sunset agreed.

Gilda took a breath, wringing her fingers together. “But… if ya come back you’ll be back t’bein’...”

“Crippled,” it was the answer Gilda knew she would get. It couldn’t be that easy, obviously. Sunset set the book back in her bag. “Yeah, it’s a ‘one-or-the-other’ sort of deal, in terms of my legs and magic.”

“Figured as much,” Gilda responded quietly.

What else could she say? Gilda wanted Sunset to be happy. That was all Gilda ever wanted lately. It seemed like every waking moment was colored by asking herself what else she could do to make Sunset happy. It wasn’t even something she felt obliged to do. Seeing Sunset smile? Seeing her face light up whenever she was happy? That’s what Gilda wanted. It was all she wanted.

Tears started to trickle down Gilda’s cheeks. “All I want is for ya t’be happy, Sunshine,” Gilda sobbed out. “I just want ya t’smile.”

A soft, warm hand drifted over Gilda’s face, wiping away the tears. She looked over to Sunset who’s staring up at Gilda with a bright smile on her face. “I am,” Sunset said gently, “and I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere.”

“B-but, your legs-” Gilda starts, but Sunset put a finger over her lips.

“Gilda, if it means leaving you, then I don’t need magic or my legs,” Sunset said evenly. “I gave up magic once because I was selfish and stupid. This time, I’m giving it up because I’m in love. I think that’s a much better reason, don’t you?”

“But… babe,” reaching out, Gilda, wrapped her arms around Sunset and pulled her girlfriend into her lap. “I want you to be better, to get better.”

Sunset leaned up and kissed Gilda, a small peck on the lips, and smiled. “I will get better. I’ll just do it from there,” she pointed at the wheelchair, “and from here,” she gestured at where she sat.

For a moment, Gilda just marveled at the insane strength that Sunset showed her. The iron will that had put an entire school under her thumb in less than a year was fully on display. Sunset wasn’t just giving up her chance for now. She was giving it up forever. Gilda wasn’t even sure if she had that kind of strength.

“Why are you so… okay with this?” Gilda asked in a cracked voice.

Sunset just shook her head. “I’m… I’m really not to be honest. This whole thing with the portal and Princess Twilight’s offer… It was really messing with me. Except… I keep coming back to the same thought whenever I would think about leaving.”

“Yeah?”

“The thought was… that I would never really be happy over there,” Sunset admitted, coiling a finger through her hair as she spoke. “I’ve never, in my entire life, been as happy as I am when I’m with you, Gil. On either world. Going through the portal now? It feels the same as when I ran through the first time: like I was running away from something. I’m never going to run away from you.”

Gilda tried.

She really, really tried.

She failed.

Sniffling, Gilda, wiped at her eyes and cheeks with the back of her hand and gestured to the wheelchair. “Well, I mean, yeah…”

Sunset stared wide-eyed at Gilda for several seconds, her jaw dropped and her left eye developing an alarming twitch.

“REALLY?!”

Gilda nearly leaped off of the bed at Sunset’s shout, dumping her onto her back on the bed as the redhead whipped her hand down and ripped the journal out of her bag to swing it through the space where Gilda was sitting. “GILDA GRIMFEATHER GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!”

Suddenly glad, for a completely different reason than her initial intent, that she’d laid down extra rugs for traction, Gilda ducked a flurry of pens from Sunset’s backpack, and then the backpack itself as she slid, cackling, into the bathroom and slammed the door shut just in time for something heavy to impact it.

“FUCK ME FOR TRYING TO HAVE A MOMENT!” Came the muffled shout from the living room.

“I’m sorry baby!” Gilda shouted from where she was braced against the bathroom door.

“YOU’RE GONNA BE SORRY!”

Gilda tried desperately to stop laughing but she couldn’t, she knew it was just aggravating the irate fireball in her living room. “I couldn’t help it!”

“WHEN YOU GET OUT HERE I’M GONNA TIE YOU TO MY WHEELCHAIR AND ROAD HAUL YOU DOWN THE STREET!”

“I love you!” Gilda shouted between choking laughter.

“I LOVE YOU TOO!”

The silence that fell after the last shouted words was a lot more comfortable than the last one as Gilda sat on the floor of the bathroom, leaning against the door, slowly letting the final fits of laughter fade away. Eventually, a small knock came at the bathroom door. Bracing herself, Gilda stood up and opened it to find a flushed and annoyed Sunset Shimmer on the other side, sitting in her wheelchair.

“You’re an ass, Gilda Grimfeather,” Sunset said with a dry scowl on her face. Trying her damndest not to start laughing again, Gilda just nodded.

With a sigh, Sunset gripped her wheels and turned the chair, rolling back to the bed, stopping at the edge and looking over her shoulder and smiling softly at her girlfriend and nodding for her to follow. Gilda was leaning against the threshold of the bathroom door, arms crossed and watching Sunset with a smile. After a moment she stood and walked over to the bedside. Sunset held her arms up, playfully reaching for Gilda who leaned down to pick her up, lifting her like a princess.

Sidling onto the bed, Gilda set Sunset back down on her lap and then reached down for the remote that was on the floor by her side of the bed. Sunset took the opportunity to swat at Gilda’s ear as she leaned down drawing a squawk of alarm from the taller girl.

“That was for ruining my moment,” Sunset said testily. “I still can’t believe you cracked a joke at a time like that.”

Gilda chuckled, rubbing her ear. “Yeah, sorry, I’ve got a shitty sense’a humor, Sunflower.”

“Shitty timing, babe,” Sunset clarified. “I’ll admit it was pretty funny.”

Thumbing the power button, Gilda fired up the t.v. and hit the play button while Sunset went to work pulling the covers around them in a warm, comfortable cocoon of blankets.

“Hey, Gil?” Sunset said as the movie started.

“Mhm?”

Shuffling herself into a better position to look up at her girlfriend, Sunset smiled. “I wanna go to the portal site on the 21st, at midnight. We can watch the portal reset. I think it’s a good way to bid farewell to the old Sunset Shimmer.”

Gilda nodded. “Yeah… yeah, that sounds good.”

Feeling much better, Sunset settled down into Gilda’s arms and watched as the first scene of the movie unfolded.

A sun-beaten middle eastern market with people of all shapes and sizes moving about as the camera panned into a dusty cafe. A tanned man in a sweat-stained shirt sits down at a table with a swarthy, secretive looking fellow who smiles unpleasantly at him.

//What is your pleasure, sir?//

The bell of the auto shop jingled in its usual off-tone manner as Gilda pushed the door open for Sunset, who wheeled herself in. Both of them stopped just inside, Gilda to kick the snow off of her boots and Sunset to at least make the attempt to not track in muck and sleet from the wheels of her chair.

Crankshaft looked up from the front counter and grinned widely at the two girls before coming around to the lobby and opening his arms wide.

“Grifa! Ibuenas!” Crankshaft wrapped his thick, heavyset arms around Gilda and gave her a strong hug that left Sunset chuckling and Gilda rubbing her arms. “This your cariña, yeah?”

Sunset rolled up and held out a hand. “Sunset Shimmer, it’s nice to meet you.”

“So you’re the one who tamed the Griffon, ey, Chica?” Crankshaft said with a laugh, taking her hand gently and shaking it. “Never thought I’d see it, Gilda’s always been a loner, even in th’old Kings, yeah?”

Gilda cut a hand across her throat with a glare at Crankshaft, who flinched. “Ah, anyway, you play that, Chica?” He pointed at Sunset’s guitar in a rather obvious deflection of the conversation.

For a moment Sunset wanted to pursue the topic, she wanted to know whatever it was that Gilda was keeping to herself, but she let it go. It wasn’t the time or the place, and she knew it. Not on Gilda’s first day at her new job.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Sunset answered, pulling the guitar case off the back of her chair and setting it in her lap. “Ah, shit,” Sunset scowled as she remembered. “I didn’t get any strings at the mall when we were there.”

Gilda patted Sunset’s shoulder. “You were kinda on edge, babe. We can go pick’em up another time. Or I’ll just grab’em, for ya if ya aren’t feelin’ up to it, yeah?”

“It’s cool,” Sunset shrugged as she snapped the clasps to the case open and pulled out her guitar. “D’ya mind if I play a little?” She asked Crankshaft as he admired the guitar body. “It helps me relax… I’m kinda nervous in public lately.”

“No hay bronca, Chica,” Crankshaft laughed. “So long as you play something I like now’n again, yeah?”

Sunset grinned. “Sure thing, hopefully I know it.”

Crankshaft pointed out a comfortable corner of the lobby for Sunset to park herself without getting too stuck in one place. It was right by a small bank of chairs, close to vent that blew out a slightly unsteady stream of warm air. In the meantime, Gilda went in the back and got into a jumpsuit, a slightly better fitted one than she was used to. The brothers had opted to have the one she normally wore be refitted slightly. Despite being a teenager and a girl, Gilda had an impressively large frame.

The day passed slowly, and less strenuously than Sunset expected. There was a steady trickle of customers that trailed in and out of the lobby. Sunset sat in the corner and played a few tunes, never singing but just losing herself in the music. Occasionally customers would stop to watch and listen.

“Hey, Chica,” Crankshaft said, partway through the afternoon. Sunset glanced up with a questioning look. “You know Santana?”

Sunset smirked. “Do I know Santana? Please, who do you think I am?”

Cracking her knuckles and stretching her fingers, started beating out a Latin beat against the wood of her guitar, strumming a smoky, sultry tone on the strings.

The moment Sunset began to sing the few customers in the lobby turned to her in obvious interest, one older marexican man grinned and sat down near Sunset, beating his calloused hands to the rhythm against the chair he was sitting on. Sunset's voice was smoky, husky, and low, curling around the words lazily as her fingers danced across the complex chords of the song. It was a voice that chilled and warmed the room in equal measure, leaving a smile on the faces of everyone present; even Gearshift stuck his head out of the service window to investigate the source of the music.

Gilda emerged from the back a moment later, wiping her oil-stained hands down with an only slightly less filthy looking rag and stared at Sunset only to immediately start backing away into the garage as Sunset fixed her stained and sweaty girlfriend with a sensuous look, but Crankshaft grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the lobby. Gearshift and Crankshaft grinned to each other in a silent moment of fraternal planning before giving Gilda a hard shove towards Sunset, followed by a wolf-whistle from both of them.

Sunset’s music suddenly kicked up, her fingers dancing along the fretboard like lightning and a warm glow suffused her entire body, and just as her music reached a fever pitch-

TWANG.

Everyone in the lobby cringed at the sound of the string snapping as Sunset struck the last chord of the chorus. “Dammit,” Sunset swore, shaking out her hand that had a thin red mark on it. “Didn’t break the skin but damn that stung. That’ll teach me to play fuckin’ Santana on old strings.”

“Probably for the best, Sunshine,” Gilda remarked as she knelt down and took Sunset’s welted hand in her own, brushing her lips over the mark. “Ya had your ears out.” Gilda tapped the top of Sunset’s head.

Sunset’s eyes widened, and she blushed. “Oh, yeah. I actually forgot that happens, heh…”

Gilda raised an eyebrow. “Ya forgot that y’turn into a magic pony princess when y’get deep enough into your music groove?”

“Y-yeah…” Sunset trailed her fingers over her guitar. “See it… it used to only happen when all of… of us played, y’know?”

Sighing, Gilda leaned in and kissed Sunset softly. “Right, sorry babe.”

“It’s okay, Gil,” Sunset set her guitar down in its case. “Guess that means I gotta replace those strings, though.”

“We can go day after tomorrow,” Gilda said, standing and brushing off her jumpsuit. “Got the day off, then fuck around til ya wanna go to the… the Statue.”

Taking a deep breath, Gilda scanned the room, where the patrons of the shop were starting to drift out and away now that the music show was over. An idea lit in Sunset's mind. It was… risky… and probably pushing herself too far, but that was sort of her M.O. as a person. She wouldn’t be Sunset Shimmer if she didn’t push the envelope one too many times just a little too hard.

“Nah, I got this,” Sunset answered to a surprised Gilda. “I’ll go tomorrow, I’ll take the bus. Don’t sweat it too much, I’ve got an idea.”

Gilda crossed her arms and frowned, but nodded. She knew better than to argue the point. At least for now.

“Yeah, a’right, Sunflower,” Gilda agreed. “But call me later, okay? I’m gonna worry all day otherwise, savvy?”

Sunset took Gilda’s hand in hers and squeezed. “Savvy.”